My life in music ...

Since the very beginning, this journey has been a constant combination of faith, determination, sacrifice and hard work. It also continues to fill me with inspiration and satisfaction. And for all the blessings and challenges it ultimately brings a sense of gratitude for all that's been and all that's yet to come. There were many pivotal and supportive people that helped me along the way and for them, my appreciation runs deep!

 

Early impressions ..

As a young boy there was an interesting array of sounds echoing through the household that filled my ears. Home life was turbulent but things were always better when the music was playing. My sweet Mother was Italian and a graphic artist and my stern Father, Irish and a high school basketball star, Marine Sergeant and Korean War Veteran. They often enjoyed listening to the sounds of Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, movie soundtracks like Paint Your Wagon, Fiddler On The Roof, The Sound of Music, To Sir With Love and Singing In The Rain, as well as TV shows like American Bandstand, Hee Haw, Soul Train, The Partridge Family and Lawrence Welk. And then add to that all the weekly church hymns. As a shy kid my fascination with music and guitar would soon dominate my luv of basketball.​

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Early inspiration ...

As a shy kid my fascination with music and guitar would soon dominate my luv of basketball. After acquiring my first pieces of vinyl, they received endless spins on my little suitcase record player. Elton John's 'Greatest Hits', a 45 of Neil Young's 'Heart of Gold' and the KTEL album 'Believe in Music'. The KTEL record was filled with a great selection. Songs like 'Brandy' (Looking Glass), 'Go All The Way' (The Raspberries), 'Let It Rain' (Derek and the Dominoes), 'Long Cool Woman' (The Hollies), 'Hold Your Head Up' (Argent), 'Summer Breeze' (Seals and Crofts) and 'Backstabbers' (The O'Jays). In retrospect, it seems that I've always fond of moody ballads. 'I Never Cry' (Alice Cooper),  'I Feel Like A Bullet In The Gun Of Robert Ford' (Elton John) and 'All By Myself' (Eric Carmen) to name a few. Even then it was crystal clear that the real power of music was in the strength of a great song! Also at home, my brother Kevin was turning me onto Prog Rock albums like Yes 'Fragile' & 'Going For The One', Queen 'A Night at the Opera' & 'Jazz' and Heart 'Little Queen'. And meanwhile, brother James was cranking up Foghat 'Live' and ZZ Top;s 'Fandango'. In retrospect, it's clear to me that Foghat guitar wizard Mr. Rod Price was my biggest early influence with slide guitar. For me during this time, the inspiration seemed to be endless and as I've often said to some of my music students, it doesn't matter what inspires you as long as you are inspired! So it's safe to say that by this point in the journey there was undoubtedly no turning back for me as the trajectory was set in motion and moving at light speed!

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A mind-blowing day ...

I was soon gifted a full day of music education in my neighborhood friends psychedelic garage. As I looked around at all the lava lamps and black light posters, they exposed me to an earful of serious rock albums from the 70's. Led Zeppelin '2', Pink Floyd 'Wish You Were Here', Montrose (debut), Boston (debut), Journey 'Look Into the Future', Black Sabbath 'Masters of Reality', Ted Nugent (debut), Genesis 'Lamb Lies Down On Broadway', Jethro Tull 'Aqualung, Derringer(debut) and Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Pronounced'. I realized that day just how powerful it was to hear an album front to back in the intended sequence allowing the ultimate listening experience! And also that the words Rock'n'Roll could mean so many things from loud electric guitars, to female singers, to gigantic drums, to flutes and mandolins. The best possible take away a young kid could have really, that there were absolutely no boundaries!

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A life changing moment ...

One day a neighborhood friend Bob Auen got up in my face and held up the album cover of Kiss  'Alive'.

From that moment on, it was game over for me!  Seeing that iconic photo was absolutely life changing and launched my desire to be in a band and get on stage! The idea of Rock stardom was now firmly implanted in my head and I was 100% aware that time was ticking fast and the race was on. After all, I only had a lifetime to make it happen.

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The guitar in the house ...

My oldest brother Kevin acquired a nylon string acoustic guitar with strings so high off the neck you could slide your whole hand underneath them. It was virtually impossible to play but I still couldn't keep my hands off it whenever I had the chance. He gave me some guidance and helped get me started with a few chords and riffs from various songs. He also got an imitation Gibson Les Paul Special and even though I was strictly told NOT to touch it, nothing was gonna stop me. Fortunately it wasn't long before my Mother took me guitar shopping at Montgomery Ward's department store in Oakland, Ca where I got my very own axe, a 'Global' Les Paul style electric guitar for $67. My inspiration soared and I practiced fiercely! Unfortunately this wonderful Guitar was stolen a month or two later, never to be found again. However this led me to getting an amazing Tobacco Sunburst Ibanez Iceman guitar which ultimately led me to my relationship with the legendary Ibanez guitar company!

 

A magical time for an aspiring young guitarist ...

The music of the 70's was filled with so many great bands and players to listen to. And aside from basketball, music was my only real thing of interest in my life and anyone who was in either game was an ally or a competitor. Growing up on the little island of Alameda, Ca was a most special place and there were countless aspiring young guitarists and musicians in my neighborhood. Honestly it seemed as if every other house on every block in town was home to a maestro in the making. There was Jim Stewart on his front porch demonstrating the intro to 'Wish You Were Here' on his 'Memphis' dbl cutaway, Craig Brakebush in his basement playing the solo for Pink Floyd's 'Money' on his Black Fender Stratocaster, and Tim Hill jamming on the porch of a friend's house near the infamous 'Jackson Park' (where the pot dealers were) playing UFO's 'Mother Mary' on his Gibson Flying V. There was John Cruz (RIP) and Eddie Fontaine and their band 'Rockbound'. I remember John teaching me how to play Rush's '2112' in his living room on Liberty St and Eddies mind-blowing performance of Van Halen's 'Eruption' and UFO's 'Rock Bottom' at their gig in the BBQ area of Alameda's majestic 'Lincoln Park'. These were all mesmerizing ands impactful moments adding vital fuel to the fire that was brewing inside me.

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Early jams ...

While on my journey working hard and dreaming of becoming real guitar slinger, I would come to meet my first real music partner in drummer Joey Frye (RIP)!  Joey was such a sweet, outgoing and charismatic guy with massive talent! There were many jam sessions and good times had in he and his friends basements. We lit each others fire and it was without question the very first musical interaction that allowed me to fully experience what musical chemistry was! It was the reference point for how good playing music could feel and it helped launch the pathway forward. While our friendship was strong, I can't recall why our musical path didn't continue on for longer, but I know it would have amounted to something very, very special and in retrospect, the experience with him was integral in shaping my earliest musical impressions going forward.

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The first gig ...

With humble beginnings, at around age twelve I played my debut live performance with a band called 'Open Current'.

The performance was at the Lincoln School Ampitheatre in Alameda, Ca. The line-up included band leader and guitarist Steve 'Sky' Clems, vocalist Scott Rowley, 'Jimmi Ward' (guitarist now turned bassist) and drummer Keith Davis. Yes, three guitars and no bass. We enjoyed the rush of entertaining a rocking crowd! Jimmi and I were the closest of friends and in our off time we absorbed as much music as we could. Many hours were spent having fun practicing riffs on Jimmi's infamous Kingston EKO guitar (aka 'Flying U'). Our innocent musical seeds were being planted and the garden was watered with passion, desire and rebellion as we fed our musical appetite.​​